Life preserver



l Nov; 2s, 1944. l F L, BROWN 2,363,640

LIFE PRESERVER Filed Aug. '7, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet lV Y NOV. 28, 1944. F L BROWN 2,363,640.

' LIFE PRESERVER Filed Aug. '7, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Nov. 2s, 1944 il "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIFEPRESERVER Frederick Lee Brown, Greenfield, Ohio, assignor `to The American Pad & Textile Company,

Greenfield, Ohio,` acorporaton of hio i Application August 7, 1943, serial No. 497,745

e v Claims.

The present invention relates to life preservers and more particularlyto life preservers of `a `vest or jacket type to beworn continuously, by adults whoseoccupations Tor recreations `impose upon them thehazard of drowning. e i

In several respects the present invention em` bodies certain features described in my Patent No. 2,331,301 e and `co-pending application, Serial No. 425,280 which are incorporated herein `by reference to the extent that a better understandingmay be had of the present invention.`

The temptation is very strong `with workers even at the risk of their lives to removeas a part of their wearing apparel a `life preserver that encumbers their actions or tends to cause them to `become unduly warm.` `In order to be adequatelybuoyant, a certainpredetermined bulk` of buoyant material has to be provided in life preservers` according to government regulations, and this bulkiness which has to be disposed `as high as possible on the chest of `the wearer provides acritical problem. i

In the present invention not only is the bulk of buoyant material required spread thinly, as discussed in the above-mentioned copending applications for the workers .comfort and conven-` ience, and the high center of effectivebuoyancy for the wearer maintained, butin addition `to these, a lifepreserver is provided which is well ventilated and cool and can be readily handled by a boat-hook or hand in event the wearer is found to be unconscious or helpless in the water. Avfurther object of the invention is `to provide for the ventilation of a life preserver in a new and improvedv manner over a large area of the `wearers` back without sacrifice of `a favorable buoyancy factor. i i l A further object resides in the provision of a e life save vest `which will withstand the strain of lifting a wearer out of the water `regardless of where a boat hook engages the vest around the chest. r

A further object of the invention resides in the-provision: of an improved life preserver embodying the `features mentioned which is also reversible without changing l or impairing the or Weight` so thatv aiminimum number of sizes` `may be stocked as standard items fori use by workers of varying heights and girths.

A further object of the invention resides in the arrangement of the required buoyant i. material e in which the buoyant material` allocated to the A `further object of the invention is to provide a life preserver wherein the buoyant` material is arranged around the chest of the wearer between i vertical lines of stitching with openings through the vest for coolness and withthe buoyant parts adjoining `the openings serving more` 'or less` as guides for the point of faboat hookrto facilitate its catching in the vest -whennecessity requires its use. n

A further object of the invention is to provide` certain reinforcing` strips which bound the upper ends of the openings -betweenbuoyant sections to preserve the shape of the `life preserverand prevent any tearing thereof ifa..boat hook is used to lift the wearer fromthe water.v l `'lhese and other objects of the ,invention will become apparent from the drawings, the description relating thereto and the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings; i. i e Fig. 1 is a front view of the preferredformof the invention as it Vappears when fastened `in place upon a person; L e

Fig. 2 .is a back view of the vest shown inFig. `1; Fig. 3 shows the lifepreserver when it is unfoldedand flattened; i i ,i Fig. 4 is a section taken uponthe line 4"-4`in Fig'. l

Fig. 5.is a section `taken upon the lines `in` e FigB; e e e Fig. 6 isa section taken upon the linen-f5 inFig.3;and.` n y Fig. 'I` is` a diagrammatical view illustrating the action of the lifepreserver upon the wearer when the wearer is in the Water and a boat hook is being used to pull him out. .i

The life preserver is made up essentially of three sections; the backsection I0, and twolsymmetrically arranged front sections Ill and l2, either of `which maybeleft or.rightdep1ending upon `which side of the` life `preserver is` nextto the wearers body. `Each section is preferably formed of two layersof suitable iiexible covering material, such as a closely woven cottoncloth stitched togetheraccording toa predetermined pattern as will be described. i e

For convenience of description the two front sections are referred to as having edges which the weight of the wearer.

meet in front of the wearer and upper and lower portions I4 and I5, respectively, capable of folding against each other along a horizontal fold line.

The front sections are made of two superimposed layers of fabric I6 (Fig. 4) tapering and terminating 'at their upper edge as at I'I (Fig. 3)

near the topof the shoulders and following down and around the arm I8 along the line 20 which is curved to circle the arm with comfortable clearance as at 2|. A.vertica1 slit is made in each front portion as indicated at 22, which slit extends downwardly to about the waist as at 23.

The side edges I3 and 20 and the edges along the slit 22 of the superimposed pieces of fabric are stitched together as at 26 to form a U-shaped envelope, which envelope is turned inside vout and ythe first is then made across the front portion as at 28 to provide ahorizontal tube 30 that bounds the bottom ofthe upper portions. I4. Below the tube 30 thev remainder of the front section is lled with a predetermined amount of buoyant material, preferably kapok,` and the. lower edge 3| is then closed ,by an inverted seam 32. This comprises the lower portion I5 and as thus formed .is quilted by horizontal stitching such asA that shown at 33 along one or more lines to predisposc the lower Aportion to ex upwardly about the horizontal lines of stitching and the tube 30. o

The rear portion I0 is made also oftwo superimposed layers I6a of fabric cut awayl at horizontally spaced points`34 to t around the arm I8 at the back, overthe shoulder, and under the arm to provide extensions 35 and 36 at opposite sides whose ends are adapted to be telescoped andvsecured by vstitching to the front portions I2 at the top as at 31 and at'the bottom as at'38.A The back'portion preferably terminates at its lower edgealong theline 40 and is provided with a verf ticalzslit 4I Iextending from the bottom thereof upwardly to a point 42 to provide two horizontally spaced pockets, 43 (Fig. 5)A separated byv a vertically disposed opening 44 in which the end of a hook 45, such as that shown in Fig. 7, is received and directed upwardly toward the reinforcing element whereby the reinforcingeleinent willI carry The vouter marginal edges 45 of the back are stitched together except along the lower edge and the envelope thus formed is turned inside outl and the horizontal line of stitching 41 made thereacross at approximately the upper end of the opening 44. 4

vThe two independent pockets 43 thus provided are then lled with a predetermined-amount of kapok 9, in this case with all ofthe kapok vthat is allocated to the back section. The kapok is held in place by a horizonta1 line of stitching 48 spaced preferably a short distance from the lower edge. The lower edge is then closed with an inverted seam 50.

Although, for the sake'of economy in cutting the material, it may be desirable to make the joining parts 35 and 36 over and under the shoulder separate from the back section III, whatever the pattern may be in this respect the outer edge of the parts extending over the shoulder are turned under to provide a smooth finish before the stitching 31 is completed. i

Thereafter, a strip of heavy woven beltng 5I is laid across the top of the vest with the ends 52 thereof extending well down along the slits 22 and.

stitched marginally in place as at 53 to form a reinforcing element over the shoulders, across the back, and around the neck of the wearer. This heavy belting serves a two fold purpose, namely, to provide a stiffening for the life preserver which makes it easy to handle, and a heavy reinforcement which is so` arranged and anchored that the weight of the body of the wearer can be supported safely without the danger ofthe life preserver rencling when upon occasions it becomes necessary to lift the wearer out of the water by the hook 45.

Where the joining part 3,6 of the back, which extends under the arm, engages the front portion,

the "frontpo'rtion is left marginally open in the original stitching, which opening is closed by an inverted seam and aline of stitching 54 for securement to the front portion. Thissecurement may be made eitherbefore or afterthe kapok is inserted in the front portion and it will be appreciated that the vertical lines of stitching 24 may be provided before the kapok is in` serted in the upper part of the front portions or may comprise quilting stitches after thekap'ok is in place.

A tubular web-like portion ss interconnects the` two front portionsv along lines of stitching 56 as secured in place ina manner similar to that of the `under arm parts 36, the tubular portion join,- ing in Vopen communication with the tubular pori tions y3ll in both of the front portions, thereby providing one continuous tube fromone edge of the life preserver to the other edge around the back to receive a draw-string or tape 5,1 therein which is secured by anchoring stitching 58 in the middle of the back. In order to anchor the back portion I0 under buoyancy and for lifting the wearer, and in order to prevent vsagging of the tube 55 across the back, tapes 60 are stitched in placev between .thel lower corners of vthe backportion. and the tubular portion 55.

' Across the bottom of the backv portion and justV under arm I8, the back and front portions I0, Il` and I2 are provided with a reinforcing tape 6Iy which ties the two parts of each front portion together at approximately the mid point of the vertical slits 22 therein in order to give the life preserver form and strength. Suitable hand ties are also provided along the meeting edges I3 of the front sections, such as the ones as shown at 63 which were secured in'place as part of the original envelope assembly before the front sections yI'I and I2 were turned inside out.

Whenthe life preserver is donned by an adult, the life preserver can be immediately held in place for all practical purposes by fastening the draw tape 5l. This draw tape gathers the vest around the torso of the wearer at approximately thevwaist with the material in the tubeportion-55 across the back gathering along the tape to in permits the lifefpreserverto fit snugly around the 1 ribs of the Awearer while the horizontally `disposed `lines `ofstitching in ,thefbottom' portion andat theywaist` permitthe lower portion to yield either tobuoyancy or tothe action "of-the torso'andlegs whenupon occasion thewearer stoops over yor sits down; Mrever the marginalstitching and turni ing ofthe three sectionsfinsideout beforefilling them Awithfkapok,*provides smooth and rounded `edges at the margins of these respective sections as shown in Fig. 6, whereby the fabric is rounded out to provide for the `maximum capacity of kapok. i

Furthermore, the slits in the front and back portions of the'vest are free of obstruction to permit the end of a boat hook toslip between them readily and to engage the reinforced portions of the vest so that the wearer can be handled with a boat hook or by hand upon oc` casion.` Moreover, by slitting the frontand back portions the buoyant portions which `press against the body due to the iit of the life preserver are permitted to move with the body rather than resist movement of the body of the wearer; Thus, a more comfortable life preserver is provided along with the ventilation of the body, to the end that the life preserver is much cooler to wear in summertime than conventional life preservers. i

In` the foregoing description it `will be noted that reference has been made to a predetermined amount of buoyant material being placed in the respective pockets or tubular constructions of the vest. Kapok is shown and described herein as the preferred buoyant materialbecause of its lightness, flexibility, high buoyancy and softness, but the invention contemplates the use of any buoyant material which is by natureor necessity an acceptable `substitute for kapok, and the context herein is to be so construed. Although a few pounds displacement is al1 that is normally `required to support a person in the water, it is considered desirable to have within the jackets suflicient buoyant material to support approxi-` mately 16 pounds dead weight for 48 hours of immersion. The amount of `material therefore refquired will depend upon the specific gravity, the

i water absorption, and other characteristics of the Itis preferred in` this connection to employ kapok as a buoyant buoyant material employed.

material since it has been found 1to be the most suitable material for this purpose and a total of `20 ounces of kapok disposed in the manner `described is ample to support the test weight, as required. It is also preferable for the purposes `of the present invention that the quantity of amiamo thevpadding is 'so` located" that: it` will cushion `the torce of a rapidly moved boat hook in. most cases unless the boat hook happens to engage in the slot on'the first thrust, l-thepads ofbuoyant material also serving `as projectionswhich not onlydireot may be made in` the structure as described, it will be appreciated that variousand further changes canlbe made as regards'cutting the life preserver l to patterns for economys sake without `departing `from the spiritof the invention, the scope of which is commensuratewith the `What is claimed is: f LA `life `preservertailored to be worn asa appended claims.

vest comprising two buoyant front sections di-l vided into vertically spaced buoyant portions secured with respect to each other by fabric andv therebetween a vertical slit terminating adjal cent to and below the reinforcing element wherei by a hook inserted between said buoyant elements is directed upwardly toward said reinforcing element, and means for securing the back section against the wearers body at approximately the waist including an element drawing the front sections inwardly between the upperand lower portions. l

2. A life preserver tailored to be worn as a vest comprising two buoyant front sections divided into vertically spaced buoyant portions adapted to fold along a horizontal line `into overlapping proximately the fold line, a back buoyant portion,

reinforcing belting extending over the shoulders of the wearer, said belting being secured to the back portion, and to the front portions in a manner bridging the splits, means for holding the front portions against the wearers 'body at the fold line including open work webbing interconnecting the front sections and back section across the back and a draw element.

3. A life preserver tailored to be worn as a vest comprising two buoyant front sections :adapted to meet in front of the wearer, said sections comprising superimposed layers of fabric marginally fastened to define envelopes lled with a buoyant material held in place along vertical lines in the upper portion and horizontal lines in the lower portion of each section, said sections having a vertically` extending opening through the fabric for ventilation in the upper portions, a buoyant back section, means for securing the back section to the front sections over` the shoulders and under `the, arms of the wearer above said lower portions includingy open work webbing affording ventilation and a draw element for holding the buoyant 4. A `life preserver tailored to be worn as a vest` comprising two buoyant front sections divided Moreoven itl1 will be u of interest to vnote that into vertically spacedbuoyant'portions capable of folding into overlapping contact with each other along `a horizontal foldrline, the upper part being divided by a verticallyy disposed cut, a buoyant back portionconnected to the side edges of'the front portions at vertically spaced points to dene arm holes, said, rear portion being divided by a vertically disposed out, a reinforcing member eX- tending across the topof the back portion above the vent and secured at 'its ends to the tops of the front portions, and means for securing Lthe life preserver upon a wearer including a tubular member interconnecting the'front portions across theback at approximately the Waist and a draw element inthe tube fastened to the tube atthe back.l

5. A life preserver tailored to be Worn as a vest comprising two buoyant front sections divided into vertically spaced buoyant .portions capable of folding into overlapping contact with eachother along a horizontal fold line, the upper part being divided by a vertically disposed cut, a buoyant back portion connected to the side edges of the front portions at vertically spaced points to dene arm holes, said rear `portion being divided 'by a vertically disposed cut, a reinforcing member extending across the top of the back portion above the ventand secured at its ends to the tops of the front portions, a second reinforcing element extending around the Vest below the arms of Athe wearer and spanning the cuts in the front por-` tions, and means for securing the life ,preserver -upon a wearer including a tubular member interconnecting the front portions across the back at approximately the waist and a draw element in the tube fastened t0 the tube at the back.

y FREDERICK LEE BROWN.` l 

